Answer to Question #264793 in General Chemistry for Cami

Question

For CN^1-+ H₂S —> HCN + HS^1- Justify by the Lewis acid-base definitions why the following reactants behave. Specify the elements involved for each reactant

a) CN^1-

b) H₂S

Answer 1

According to Lewis theory of acid – base reactions, “a species that has a lone pair of electrons and can donate an electron pair is called Lewis base.Anions can donate electrons so they act as Lewis bases

So here our CN^1- is our Lewis base and H2S will be our Lewis acid by default.

For our CN^1- having a valency state of (-1) it consists of Carbon and Nitrogen

While for our second reactant H2S that has a valency state of (0) it consists of Hydrogen and sulphur